My Books

As an after Christmas special, I am giving away 10 Kindle copies of His Wife for a While. Think of it as a belated Christmas gift from me. To be eligible just leave a comment below and I'll gift Kindle copies of the book to the first 10 people who comment. The gift-giving will continue until 10 eager readers post and 10 books are gifted.

UPDATE: I already have 10 winners, so let's turn this 10-book-giveaway into a 20-book-giveaway! Comment below if you'd like a gift copy.

For all the news on my upcoming releases, please join my blog followers by putting your e-mail address in the box that can be found in the right hand column called 'follow by e-mail'. I promise I will never share your contact info with anyone. Thanks!

For five days - Dec 16-20 - The Merry-Go-Round was offered for free in Amazon's Kindle Store. Over 45,000 US readers and almost 6,000 UK readers downloaded the book, free of charge. Readers in Germany, France and Italy also downloaded a few copies. I've already received some nice reviews and reader feedback. I want to thank those who have left such wonderful reviews on Amazon. I feel this 'free giveaway' experiment has been a great success.

Today, the book inched it's way up the sales ranks until it hit the Kindle Top 100 List. As I write this post, The Merry-Go-Round is #77 in the Kindle Store. I am jumping for joy!

I
was anointed a female fictionista by an overzealous Georgia Bulldog fan on
Twitter. I immediately took it for my job description. So, here’s what you should know.I write. I write a lot. And, when I'm not writing,
I think about writing a lot. You may
think we're having a conversation, but invariably I'm stealing your name,
asking how to spell it, and secretly describing the look on your face in five
words or less in my mind. My writing tends to be dark, moody, and sometimes
funny. Sometimes, it can be a bit lyrical or even literary. It’s often edgy, so
be forewarned. My readers complain they
can't put my books down. Or, just when they think they've figured the story
out, it changes and becomes something else. My stories tend to be dark and comprised of
broken heroines; even the heroes in my books have a few flaws that cause
trouble. It’s true; my characters may disappoint you or surprise you or piss
you off, but I think you’ll understand why they do what they do because of the
way I write them. I strive to reveal the deepest underpinnings about life,
about love, and about human nature, but it’s not for the faint of heart. I’ll
take you through a proverbial emotional ringer before reaching resolution and it’s
never as predictable as you might think. Do I sound like your kind of
fictionista? Come along, darling. This way.

Something else you should know about me is that I’m a huge
George Clooney fan. Maybe, Up In The Air wasn’t
one of his usual gigs, but I loved that movie. And, let’s be frank, I watched ER without him for years, but it was
never the same. Never. Anyway, I
digress. There’s a scene in Up In The Air
where he’s telling this guy to follow his dream after George has told him he’s
been laid off.When I saw that scene, it
was as if George was practically speaking to me because I was there, two years ago, when I was laid off from a high tech
sales job, had always harbored a dream to write full-time, and went for it
after that. Is it a coincidence that Up
In The Air came out about the same time? I think not.

So now, this is what I do. Write. Write all the time. I’ll
admit it was hard at first. It still is—hard, harrowing, humbling. Believe me,
it would be easier to go out and get another high paying sales job than write
for a living because writing causes me to question my mental toughness so much
of the time. Can I do this? Am I good
enough?

Yet, here’s what I’ve learned: you just have to turn off that
voice in your head off or ignore what is being said.Sometimes, all you need to do is stand up for
yourself, stop depending upon the opinions of others, and just go after what
you really want.

For me, that’s writing. For you, it might be anything else,
but just pursue your passion whatever it is.

With this anthology, my debut novel, Seeing Julia is featured. Seeing
Julia is a labor of love and represents a lot of hard work. Truly, this
book has caused me as much grief as it has joy. After I first wrote this novel,
I entered it into a literary contest and promptly forgot about it. I was busy. I was taking classes at The Writer’s Studio, becoming literary
savvy, and writing another novel called Not
To Us.

I remember it was a Monday morning in early June of 2010 when
I received a call from the president of the Pacific Northwest Writers
Association telling me I was a finalist in the romance category with my entry
of Seeing Julia. “What?”She asked meif I planned on attending the conference. “Well, I guess so.”
Lucky for me, I attended the summer conference, bought a new outfit, and won
the Zola Award and first place with Seeing
Julia the night of the awards dinner. It was a surreal moment, when I had
to go up to the front of the room with those seven hundred people watching and
accept my award. But, truly? I was more concerned about navigating all those
tables and chairs on my way up to the podium than actually seizing the moment.
As word spread about my writing award win, self-doubt had already set in. It
was a fluke. It was dumb luck. As high as my emotions soared about winning;
they fell just as fast when literary agents still rejected my work. Yes, the
win opened a number of literary agent doors for me, but I wrote several
different versions of that novel when a number of them took greater interest,
but then wanted to change everything about the story. One agent called me up
and lectured me for forty-five minutes about the book and then promised to take
a look if I made more changes. I sent her the revised manuscript, but she never
called again.

This was a year ago. I was at a crossroads with my writing
and myself. I kept thinking if I did what they said and changed it, yet again, I would get to the next
step—literary bliss. But I wasn’t getting anywhere.

Discouraged, but still determined, I reviewed what the
critiques and feedback about Seeing Julia
had been. Based on those, I sifted through what I thought would need to be
changed and began rewriting the story,working
day and night through most of November. With just getting a few hours of sleep
each night, I kept up the intense pace and by the time the novel was finished; I knew it was. I’m extremely proud of Seeing Julia. During the process of
rewriting it for the last time, I reached an important pinnacle with my
writing: I trusted myself. Confidence entered into the realm. And, along with
it, swift understanding: I had to make my
own literary bliss.

Two additional things became clear. First, it was essential
for me to have complete control over the publishing of my work; and second, the
publishing industry was in the midst of a perfect storm because of e-books and
I needed to take full advantage. And, so I did.

In late April and early May of this year, I released two
novels: Seeing Julia and Not To Us. These books are available as
e-books as well as print trade paperbacks.

Many wonderful readers have responded to my work. They often
reach out to me and let me know how they love my novels. I love and cherish
their enthusiasm for my work.

This is literary
bliss.

Of course, my
family’s number one complaint is that I write too much and all the time. Now,
add to that the twittering and the facebooking and the wordpressing and now
google plus-ing, and checking Amazon, and taking writing classes; it's a
full-time gig. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The
good news is that with the encouragement of my readers and confidence in my
writing, I’m
working on my third novel, When I See
You, and hope to release this book before the end of this year.And, I already have drafts for two other
novels, Saving Valentines and Finding Amy.

Oh yes,
there are occasions, rare ones, when I'm not writing. That’s when I like to
drink a fine wine, check in with my family, and look at my awesome view which I
can see when I look up long enough from my computer screen in my writing
refuge.

And
so, welcome. Welcome to my little piece of the universe.

I’ll leave you with this—a philosophy I now live by, borrowed
from one of the greatest women tennis players of all time: “You’ve got to take the initiative and play your game. In a decisive
set, confidence is the difference.”Chris
Evert

Oh, Chrissy, you are so
right!

***

This is one story from Indie
Chicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Stories available on Amazon
and Barnes
& Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today. All proceeds
go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer.

Also included are sneak
peeks into 25 novels! My novel, Seeing
Julia, is one of the novel excerpts featured. It is available at most
online retailers in trade paperback as well as e-book formats.

As most of you know, I wrote for Harlequin Books for 20 years before
becoming a proud Independent Author. I've written over 30 romance and
women's fiction novels that have sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide. I'm proud to say my
books have won awards and made best-seller lists. Below is the story I
contributed to the anthology Indie
Chicks: 25 Independent Women, 25 Inspiring Stories. I hope readers will buy a copy of this book because all proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to forward the fight against breast cancer.

Stepping Into The
Light

I sit in the back row, shoulders
rounded, knees jumping, my left thumb rubbing a raw spot in the center of my
right palm. The sad and lonely sufferings being expressed in the dank,
dimly-lit basement are all too real and much too close for comfort. I glance at
the door and contemplate escape, but it's too late. All eyes are upon me. I
hesitate only a moment before standing on quaking legs, clearing my throat
softly and confessing, "My name is Donna. I'm a writer. And I need to come
out of the closet because it's dark in here."

Twenty years ago, had there been a
group called Writers Anonymous, I would have attended faithfully, pouring out
my heart at the weekly meetings. You see, for the couple of years that I spent
writing my first novel, I told almost no one what I was doing. My husband knew;
in fact, he's the reason I even attempted what felt like the insurmountable
task of plotting out and finishing that first book. He's also the reason I
ended up in this glorious, chaotic, roller-coaster life I've lived as an author;
however, that's a story for another day. But when I first started scratching
words on a yellow legal pad with a no. 2 pencil (there's nothing else that
stirs my creativity more than the feel of graphite gliding against paper), I
didn't tell a single family member or friend.

Why would I keep my dreams and
aspirations such a tightly guarded secret?

I would hazard to guess the answer
is the same reason anyone else hides things that could have life-altering
potential: fear.

What if I failed? What if I had no
talent? What if I didn't possess the perseverance to finish that first
manuscript?

The mere thought of the snide
remarks, tittering laughter and looks of skepticism and ridicule I might receive
were enough to keep me silent. My imagination has always been strong, and I
easily saw the scenes play out in my head.

So
you think you're going to write a book, huh?

But
you didn't go to college.

A
romance novel? Really?

If
you're going to try to write, why not write a real book? You know, like a
mystery or a thriller; something someone is going to want to read.

My ability to conjure fantasy has
always been a blessing and a bane. When reading a book or listening to someone
tell a story or imagining repercussions of actions, visions will take shape in
my head. Situations feel real, characters become corporal, while my stirred
emotions brim and often overflow. Needless to say, Hallmark commercials make me
cry. While powerful creativity is a great and necessary trait for a writer who
is intent on concocting a compelling tale, it can become crippling if that
writer is too focused on the opinions of others.

However, I also have to confess
that keeping that first novel-writing dream all to myself charged me with a
vibrant energy. I was excited to get my story down on paper. Seeing my plot
unfold was absolutely thrilling! Creating my characters was fun. And the fact
that no one knew about my clandestine efforts gave me a huge amount of freedom.
No one told me I was doing it all wrong; no one suggested I could never reach
my goal.

In defense of all the people I kept
in the dark all those years ago, I have to admit that most of them were delighted
and supportive when I finally divulged that my first manuscript had been
purchased by a bona fide publisher. Oh, there was a scoffer or two, and I
continue to meet them; you know the type, people who can't be happy for others
or who feel another's success somehow diminishes his or her own self-worth, but
I've learned to deal with those people (working with New
York City editors forces a writer to grow a thick skin
pretty quickly). I merely smile and think about the slew of books I've sold and
the fan mail I've received from all over the world.

Those scoffers seem to have come
out of the woodwork now that I've reinvented myself as an Indie Author. But
venturing into this new arena couldn't have happened at a better point in my
life. I'm confident in my ability to tell a good story. I'm more than satisfied
with the career I've had, and have no trouble imagining even more success in
the future. I saw tangible proof when two of my books made it onto Kindle's Top
100 List. I'm happy with who I've become as a writer and as a person. If my
work receives less-than-flattering feedback from a reader, I might not like it,
but I also realize it's not the end of the world; I've learned that I can't
please all readers all the time. I love the creative freedom I have as an
independent author. I can allow my muse to take me wherever it will. I'm terrifically
grateful that there are readers out there who are willing to buy my novels.
Every time I read a good review of one of my books I want to (and do!) kiss my
husband for suggesting I take a stab at this profession (it's a habit that's been
very good for my marriage).

So… what's my point? Well, don't
let the negative opinions of others keep you from dreaming, for one thing. Most
of the scary thoughts that run through your head will never happen, and the few
that do materialize can be dealt with. You're stronger than you think. Don't
allow fear to paralyze you. Aspire to be and do whatever it is you want to be
and do. Be kind to yourself; you deserve the same compassion and concern that
you offer others. And most importantly, know that your dreams matter. Indulge
them. Reach for the stars! I did, and I'm still astounded that I snagged a
few.

His Wife for a While is currently #38 on Kindle's Best-Selling Contemporary Romance List. (UPDATE! Today (12.9.11), it's #24!) I'm happy that the book is doing so well! I'd like to thank my readers.

The Autumn Review gave the book 4 out of 5 stars. "This really was a sweet story. Even though I knew how it would end
up, I still enjoyed getting to know the characters. Chelsea's story was
intriguing and I liked seeing her move past her doubts about love. They
developed a sweet relationship full of hope."

I am so grateful for readers who are willing to tell other readers about good books. For Independent Authors like myself who self-publish their work, these readers/bloggers are a mainstay of promotion. We have few avenues of marketing open to us. So thank you, Autumn Review!

Today, I welcome fellow Indie Chick Linda Welch to my blog as she shares her inspiring story from Indie Chicks: 25 Independent Women, 25 Personal Stories. I'd like to remind readers that all proceeds of this book will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the fight against breast cancer. Linda, welcome to In All Directions!

~ ~ ~

When I published the first two Whisperings paranormal
mystery novels, I created an icon to use on Facebook and Twitter. The picture
is of Whisperings lead character, Tiff Banks. It seemed a good way to advertise
my product at the time. But no matter how often I say she is not me, I am not a
tall, slim, blond young woman, many obviously don’t believe me. Response to the
avatar has amused me over the years. You wouldn’t believe the comments, compliments, and odd comments I think were meant as compliments. Many of
them were a hoot. I knew I’d eventually have to come out of the identity closet
and say, hey, look here, this is me, not the long-haired cutie.

Then Cheryl Shireman asked me to contribute
to the Indie Chicks anthology and also asked for a photo. This is the perfect opportunity
to set the record straight. If you want to know who Linda Welch really is, read on. . . .

NEVER
TOO LATE

I’m going to tell you something I don’t
think you know.

I haven’t been a “chick” for many a year. I’m
a couple of months shy of 61. I have been married to the same man for 39 years.
We have two sons and four grandchildren. And you thought I was a tall, slim young thing, didn’t you. I am what is
called a late bloomer and I’m writing this for other old biddies who had a
dream and let it pass them by, or think they are too busy, or it’s too late to
fulfill their dream. I don’t mean just writing, but any dreamed-of achievement
you hide in your heart.

Linda Welch

I was born in a country cottage in England. My father was a
restless man, so we often moved and never had much money. I remember days when
only Dad had meat on his plate at dinner, but we never went hungry. We had
vegetables and fruit from the garden, eggs from the chickens. Times were hard,
but we children never knew that. We were loved. When Mum and Dad met during
World War II, Mum was a privately educated “well-bred” lady. I doubt I will
ever meet anyone as smart as my mother. At 88 years, she is still as sharp as a
tack. Dad was a countryman to the bone. He had many artistic talents he didn’t
pursue until later in life. When he did, he excelled at them. I like to think
some of their intelligence and talent rubbed off on me.

So much has changed, in my life, in the
world. I hold memories of my childhood close. I won’t let them fade. One day, I
will write about them.

I had a good basic education, first at a
village school, then an all-girls school, but I left at 15 (at that time the
legal age in England) and worked first
as a telephone operator before I went into office occupations. I did not see
authorship in my future.

But I have always daydreamed. Often, I
recreated the same daydream multiple times, constantly elaborating.I did not realize I wrote books in my head.

I began writing words on paper in my
mid-forties, but it was a hobby. Somewhere along the way, I thought, Could I publish this? and then I’d like to publish. But I talked myself
out of it. Authors were young men and women who decided they wanted to write at
a young age and worked to improve their skill their entire life. They went to
college and university, they had degrees in writing, creative writing or
journalism. I was inexperienced; I didn’t have their dedication or education.
Anyway, I had a husband to support, children to raise and part-time jobs to
supplement the family income. I didn’t have time to write and send queries,
synopsis or sample chapters to agents.

In 2008 I discovered the Lulu publishing
platform and took the plunge. I published the space opera Mindbender and
science fiction Galen’s Gate. I subsequently unpublished them, with every
intention of revising and republishing. Some copies are still floating around
out there somewhere. However, Tiff Banks,
who had been swimming around in this murky thing I call a brain for several
years, chose to come out and play. She took over my life. She became my second
skin.

When I think back to why I did not publish
until in my fifties, I realize it had nothing to do with inexperience or lack
of education. I was not ready. I had to marry a dashing young American airman,
leave my homeland, raise two sons, spoil four grandchildren, live and work with
Americans and become entrenched in the way of life. I was not ready to write
Along Came a Demon until I came to the mountains of Utah, stood looking
over my mountain valley, and knew,
“this is it. This is where Tiff lives. She knows the bitter cold and snow of
winter, the harsh heat of summer. She knows her city and the people inside-out.
This is Tiff’s world, and now, I know who she is.”

Then the hard work began. My education was
strictly “King’s English.” I wrote formal letters, contracts and legal
documents at work. I had to take the starch out of my writing. Research didn’t
help. It seemed that each time I read an article or blog about word usage, in
particular overuse and what to avoid, the next book I read was a best-selling
novel by a best-selling author who broke those rules. And having decided to barge
into my life, Tiff was very positive about how she talks. She’s a born and bred
American, a slightly snarky, slang-wielding gal who speaks to the reader on a
personal level, individual to individual. I had to use a style that practically
screamed “you can’t do that!” in my ear every other sentence.

I published the first Whisperings novel for another reason: Nobody seemed to believe in
my writing. Not friends, relatives, friendly acquaintances. I think they
supposed a 58-year-old with no education in the literary field, who suddenly came
out of the woodwork and decided to publish, must be a “vanity publisher” who
wanted to force poorly-written books on readers. When I said I wrote fiction, I
got blank looks, followed by, “that’s nice. Now, as I was saying. . .” Nobody wanted to read my work, not even my sweet
husband. But he enjoyed urban fantasy and I thought he’d like Tiff Banks. So in a way, I also
published for him.

I published Along Came a Demon in November 2008. It was supposed to be a
stand-alone novella, but readers wanted more and Tiff obliged. Along Came a Demon became book one of
the Whisperings series of paranormal mysteries. I published the sequel, The Demon Hunters, in November 2009. In
2010 I added material to Along Came a
Demon to make it a full-length book and at the same time made small changes
to The Demon Hunters to reflect those
in Along Came a Demon. I published
book three, Dead Demon Walking, in
March 2011. Being a wordsmith, I should be able to express my joy each time a
reader tells me they love my books, but it truly is beyond my powers of
description. Now, when someone asks me what I do for a living, instead of telling
them I am a part-time administrative assistant and adding (hesitantly) “I also
write fiction,” I say I am an author. When I fill out a form that asks for my
occupation, I proudly write “author” in the little box.

Mary Wesley published Jumping the Queue at age 70 and went on to write ten best sellers
until she died twenty years later.

Harriett Doerr was 74 when she published The Stones of Ibarra.

Laura Ingalls Wilder published her Little House on the Prairie series when
she was in her 50s.

Mary Lawson was 55 when CrowLake was published.

Flora Thompson is famous for her
semi-autobiography Lark Rise to
Candleford, published when she was 63.

Age is irrelevant. You are never too old.
For anything.

~ ~ ~

This is
one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Independent Women, 25 Personal Stories available on Amazon
and Barnes
& Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today.
Also included are sneak peeks into 25 novels!
My novel, Along Came a Demon, book one of the Whisperings paranormal mystery
series, is one of the novels featured.
All proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.